Cattleya Starlight embodied nobility in every sense of the word.
Her father, Reynold Starlight, was the owner of the Starlight Guild, a prestigious 6-Star guild of Exorcists renowned throughout Ocryphia. Ranked third among the nation's elite, the guild owed its fa and influence entirely to Reynold's determination and skill. Against all odds, he built the Starlight Guild without relying on the support of his estranged family, whom he had chosen to defy.
The rift stemd from Reynold's marriage to Fina Asterion, a decision that shook both of houses. Fina hailed from the exalted Asterion family, the sa family responsible for founding Ocryphia Academy, the pinnacle of Exorcist training. The Academy's founder, a legendary Exorcist, was celebrated for saving Ocryphia from a devastating Devil two centuries ago. The Asterion House, revered almost as royalty, far surpassed the Starlight lineage in prestige.
When Isabel Asterion, the Headmistress of Ocryphia Academy, discovered her daughter's clandestine relationship with Reynold, the heir of the Starlight House, tensions erupted. Isabel had long planned to secure Ocryphia's future by marrying Fina to a royal from a neighboring kingdom. Yet, Fina defied her mother's wishes, choosing love over duty.
Though Reynold was no ordinary suitor—his talent and nobility were undeniable—Isabel adamantly opposed the union. She refused to give her blessing. But Fina didn't care, marrying Reynold in secret.
Reynold, too, did the sa. Despite opposition from his own family, who harbored deep disdain for the Asterions—particularly Isabel—he chose Fina over his family. Their act of rebellion severed ties with both families, leaving them to forge their own path without the backing of their influential bloodlines.
What seed like an act of rebellion beca a clear show of their strength. Together, Reynold and Fina thrived. Reynold rose to prominence, building the Starlight Guild into one of Ocryphia's finest institutions. anwhile, Fina pursued a groundbreaking career as a scientist at Horizon.
Sixteen years ago, from the love between Reynold and Fina Starlight, a daughter was born, their only child, Cattleya Starlight.
From the mont of her birth, Cattleya was cherished as the embodint of their bond. Her parents indulged her every desire, sparing no expense to ensure her happiness. Yet, alongside their affection, they instilled in her a deep understanding of her heritage. Despite their estrangent from their respective families, Reynold and Fina believed it essential for Cattleya to grasp the weight of the bloodlines that coursed through her veins.
Cattleya absorbed these lessons with remarkable aptitude. While other children her age played, she imrsed herself in the study of nobility, mastering its customs and responsibilities. By her early years, she had already demonstrated extraordinary intelligence, strength, and talent. But beneath her drive lay a singular motivation: to make her parents proud and et their lofty expectations.
However, Reynold and Fina's demanding responsibilities left little ti for their daughter. Though they loved her deeply, their commitnts often kept them away. To fill the void, they entrusted her care to a trusted guard, instructing him to cater to her every whim. While Cattleya appreciated the gesture, her childhood was tinged with an undeniable loneliness—a life of luxury that lacked warmth.
When Cattleya turned ten, her world expanded. She t Lucas Whiteford, the son of her father's close friend and the heir to a powerful 7-Star Guild. The two families had grown close over the years, and it was evident that their parents had orchestrated this eting with a long-term goal in mind. Her parents encouraged her to form a bond with Lucas, subtly steering their relationship toward an eventual engagent.
Cattleya was no fool; she understood their intentions imdiately. Dutiful as ever, she followed their wishes and began fostering a connection with Lucas. The boy was everything she might have expected—handso, talented, and, much like herself, unabashedly arrogant. To her surprise, she found it easy to talk to him.
Lucas beca the first boy she ever grew close to, and with that closeness ca the stirrings of unfamiliar emotions. Perhaps it was a crush, or perhaps it was sothing deeper—a sense of possession. To Cattleya, Lucas wasn't rely her first companion; he was hers. She loathed seeing him show interest in other girls, especially ones like Ludivine, a rival in her mind. The notion that Lucas might value soone else wounded her pride, leaving her questioning her worth despite knowing she excelled in every way.
Yet Cattleya was not one to wallow in doubt. If Lucas's attention strayed, she resolved to win it back. Today, she intended to prove, beyond any doubt, that she was unmatched. Lucas Whiteford would have no choice but to see her as the better choice, the only choice.
In Ocryphia's first practical exam, Cattleya Starlight had one goal: to claim the top rank. The competition was fierce, but she was confident in her abilities. The only true obstacle she anticipated was Erion Mistral, soone whose rank often edged just above hers. Even so, the margin was slim, and she was determined to close the gap and surpass him.
What she didn't anticipate, however, was an unexpected challenger.
"Who is this…" Cattleya murmured, her usually composed expression faltering as her gaze locked onto the leaderboard. There, above Erion and herself, a na stood out: Leon Cromwell.
The na stirred a faint recollection, but she couldn't place it. "Cromwell... why does that sound familiar?" She mused, narrowing her eyes. Yet no mory surfaced that explained this individual who had managed to secure the top spot with a staggering lead over the rest.
"This has to be a mistake," Cattleya decided, brushing off her irritation with a flick of her blond hair and a self-assured smile. It was unthinkable that an unknown could surpass her—let alone by such a wide margin. For now, she pushed the anomaly aside, focusing instead on her imdiate goal: conquering the strongest Demonic Entities the exam had to offer. She was already on the verge of overtaking Erion, and that was all that mattered.
"Finally, we found you~"
The sing-song voice jolted her from her thoughts. Instincts honed through years of training scread danger. Without hesitation, Cattleya leaped back, her golden sword drawn in an instant. A radiant beam of light erupted from the blade, targeting the spot where she sensed the threat.
-BOOM!
The ground shattered under the force of her attack, sending debris flying. But her quarry was quick—too quick. A shadow darted from the explosion, evading her strike with unsettling ease.
"Impressive. As expected from the Starlight Heiress."
Three figures erged from the shadows, encircling her. Their presence was definitely—Demons.
Cattleya's grip on her sword tightened, though her expression remained composed. Her keen eyes assessed the situation. They were clearly not part of the exam.
The leader, a smug-looking man with sharp features, stepped forward. "We're here to take you with us. Be a good girl, and we won't harm that beautiful face of yours."
Cattleya's lips curved into a smirk. Raising her sword, she leveled it at them. "Perfect timing, I was just looking for so real-life practice to prove myself."
Her unshaken deanor left the demons montarily surprise. Was it sheer arrogance, or did she truly believe in her ability to take them on? Whatever the case, she seed sure of herself.
"We did warn you. Catch her," the leader, Gin, ordered.
The two possessed demons charged at Cattleya with terrifying speed. But before they could reach her, she vanished in a burst of radiant light, reappearing above them with her sword raised high. Her movents were as fluid as they were precise.
"Fourth Rank Light Spell!" She summoned, slashing downward in a crescent arc.
-BAM!
The blade of light cleaved through both demons with devastating force, their bodies falling to the ground in two smoldering halves. A wet, heavy thud echoed as they hit the earth. Cattleya landed gracefully, pointing her glowing sword toward Gin with a confident smile.
"You're next," she said, vanishing once more in a streak of light.
In the blink of an eye, she reappeared before Gin, her blade descending in a blinding strike. But Gin was ready. Drawing a black blade, he parried her attack. Yet the force of her light attribute overwheld him, enveloping his form and sending him hurtling into a nearby tree.
Gin staggered to his feet, a grimace twisting his features. "An exceptional affinity with the Light Attribute," he muttered, brushing debris from his clothes. "This is... quite botherso."
Light—the bane of demons. And in Cattleya's hands, it was wielded with terrifying skill.
Cattleya's eyes narrowed as she noticed black tendrils writhing around Gin's body. Her grip on her sword tightened.
"Now I see why Milord wants you," Gin chuckled
Before she could react, Gin vanished in a blur of motion. Discover exclusive tales on empire
'Fast!'
Cattleya's instincts scread at her, and she dodged sideways just in ti to avoid a lethal strike. The ground where she'd stood split open under the force of his blow. Without hesitation, she stabbed her sword into the earth.
"Fifth Rank Light Spell!"
A luminous wall erupted from the ground, forcing Gin back before he could close in. He stumbled, a fresh gash carved into his cheek by the edge of her light magic. Blood oozed from the wound, and for the first ti, his twisted grin faltered.
"That was close," he admitted with a chuckle, wiping the blood from his face. "You're truly impressive, Starlight Heiress."
Cattleya rose to her feet, her golden blade shimring as she raised it high once more. This ti, there would be no holding back. Her smirk returned, as she summoned an imnse surge of mana.
"I'll show you what the future strongest Exorcist is capable of," she declared.
Her blade blazed with radiant energy, the intensity nearly blinding. The air crackled around her as she prepared her strongest attack.
"Sixth Rank Light Spell—!"
But before she could unleash her attack, sothing cold wrapped around her arms. She froze, her movents halted by writhing black tendrils.
Cattleya's eyes widened in disbelief as she turned her head. The tendrils snaked out from the remains of the two demons she had slain earlier. Even severed in half, their bodies pulsed with unnatural vitality.
"No..." She whispered, struggling against the dark restraints. Her efforts were futile; the tendrils held her fast.
"That was close," Gin sighed in relief as he stepped toward her. The grin returned to his face, more nacing than before. "I don't even want to imagine what would've happened if you'd completed that attack. Truly terrifying."
He stopped re steps away, his smirk widening. "Now, I'll be taking you with —"
"I don't think so."
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